Profile Optimization
Camelia Khadraoui
Last updated: 24 Oct 2025
You’ve probably heard that adding keywords to your LinkedIn profile helps you show up in searches, but where do you find the right ones?
According to LinkedIn, 8 people are hired every minute, and 65 million users look for jobs each week. With so many people searching, a strong profile is a must. The right keywords help you show up in recruiters’ searches.
Why LinkedIn Keywords Matter
Keywords make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to find you. They show what skills and experience you have, and which roles fit you best. When you use them naturally in your profile, LinkedIn can better match you with the right opportunities.
Your profile works like a small website. If you don’t use the right search terms, people won’t find you.
How to Do Keyword Research for Your LinkedIn Profile
1. Start with Job Descriptions
The easiest place to start your research is by looking at actual job postings.
For instance, if you’re aiming for a Project Manager role, open a few job listings for that position and carefully scan the descriptions.
You’ll notice some terms appearing repeatedly, such as:
“Project Plan”
“Project Management”
“Agile Methodology”
Those repeated phrases are your keywords.
They represent what employers value the most for that role.
Once you’ve reviewed a few similar listings, you’ll start to observe patterns.
Note down the terms that best fit your skills and experience. These are the words you should naturally incorporate into your LinkedIn profile.
2. Use LinkedIn’s Skills Section
LinkedIn allows you to add up to 100 skills, and each one functions like a keyword. To optimize this:
Go to your profile and scroll to the Skills section.
Click the pencil icon and then the plus sign to add new skills.
LinkedIn will automatically suggest keywords based on your profile.
For example, if “Project Management” appears, select it. Then LinkedIn will ask you where you utilized that skill (in which job or educational experience).
Once you save it, LinkedIn will show that keyword next to your relevant experience.
This helps your profile appear in searches for that specific skill.
4. Ask AI for Targeted Keyword Ideas
You can also utilize ChatGPT, Gemini, Claud, or Perplexity to discover relevant LinkedIn keywords tailored to your background. Try a prompt like:
“What are some LinkedIn keywords for a Project Manager with experience in [your industry or tools]?”
AI tools will provide you a list of potential keywords.
Don’t use every keyword you find. Choose the ones that correspond with what you observed in job listings.
Start with the keywords that reflect what you do now and where you aspire your career to go.
5. If You Have LinkedIn Premium: Use the Qualification Insights
If you’re already subscribed to LinkedIn Premium, you gain access to additional keyword data within job posts.
When you open a job listing, scroll down to the “Top Skills” or “Qualification Details” sections.
These sections indicate precisely what skills the employer is prioritizing.
You’ll see the employer’s top 10 skills for the role. This highlights which skills are most important to incorporate into your profile.
Below that, LinkedIn also displays additional skills commonly listed by other applicants.
You can also view “Skills among applicants” and see a snapshot of what others applying for the same role have included in their profiles.
These insights assist you in reviewing your profile and ensuring you’re not overlooking any crucial industry terms.
6. Explore Candidates’ Profiles
Examine how individuals in your target role portray themselves.
Open profiles of professionals with the job you desire and analyze their Experience sections.
Note how they articulate their responsibilities. What wording do they employ? If some phrases align with your experience, add those to your profile.
7. Analyze Job Boards
You can delve deeper by visiting job boards like Indeed or Glassdoor. Search for the same role and browse the listings.
You may encounter new terms or certifications that frequently appear. Incorporate them if they align with your background.
If you use Keywords Everywhere, click on “Organic ranking keywords for this URL” to view the search terms those job postings rank for on Google. You might discover new phrases to implement.
8. Look Up “Responsibilities” Articles
Type your target role followed by “responsibilities” into Google.
For example, search for “Social Media Manager responsibilities.” The articles will enumerate typical tasks and common skills associated with the job, such as:
Creating content calendars
Tracking engagement metrics
Collaborating with design or marketing teams
Running paid ad campaigns
Monitoring trends and competitor activity
Reading several of these articles aids you in identifying recurring terms. Those are the skills and tools employers associate with that role.
You can then seamlessly incorporate those keywords into your About or Experience sections, showcasing how your profile aligns with job expectations.
How to Include Keywords in Your LinkedIn Profile
Once you’ve gathered your list of keywords, the next step is knowing where and how to use them.
The goal isn’t to cram them everywhere; it’s to make them sound natural while still helping your profile show up in searches.
Here’s how to do it right:
1. Headline
This is one of the first things recruiters see (and one of the most searchable parts of your profile). Instead of just writing “Project Manager”, try something more specific, like:
“Project Manager | Agile & Scrum | Cross-Functional Team Leadership”
This approach keeps the content readable while naturally incorporating keywords that reflect your expertise.
2. About Section
Think of this as your story, but written with SEO in mind. Sprinkle in keywords throughout your paragraphs rather than listing them out. For example:
“I’ve led multiple Agile projects across marketing and IT teams, managing budgets, timelines, and stakeholder communication.”
That way, you’re blending relevant phrases like Agile projects, budget management, and stakeholder communication without making it sound forced.
3. Experience Section
Use the language from real job descriptions to describe what you’ve done.
If a keyword like process improvement or risk management appears often in listings for your role (and it’s something you’ve done), then make sure it’s clearly stated in your bullet points or summaries.
4. Skills Section
Add the most relevant and recurring skills you identified during your research.
LinkedIn allows up to 100 skills, but it’s better to focus on quality over quantity.
Pick only the ones that truly represent your strengths and the direction you want your career to go.
5. Endorsements and Recommendations
Ask colleagues or managers to endorse you for the same keywords you’re using.
This reinforces your credibility and helps LinkedIn’s algorithm associate you more strongly with those terms.